Dear Baby Girl...

Dear Baby Girl,

It's me, your mama. I'm writing you again. Right now I am sitting in Istanbul in my hotel room. It is silent and I am alone. I can do anything I want to do right now. I am choosing to do nothing. I know that when I get back to Riyadh things are going to get crazy. In just a little over 8 weeks daddy and I get to meet you and then things will get really crazy. Because of that, I have decided it is totally ok to sit on the computer in a bed while on vacation.

Speaking of vacation, I have to apologize to you for yesterday. Overall, this trip has been great so far. Daddy and I have been doing just a little bit each day so that I don't get too tired. Aunt Krystle, Uncle Zach and Tristan are here and we've been spending lots of time with them too. It has been a great last vacation before we welcome you into our lives.

Yesterday was rough on me though, and I it felt like it was not very easy for you either. Daddy and I ventured out a little farther west to see a few more mosques and to try and make it to Chora Church. Daddy warned me that it was a lot of walking and much of it would be going uphill. He was right. Poor guy had to pull me around for most of the morning. After a few hours and almost 10,000 steps before lunch I was done. It felt like you were trying to get out and my back was screaming at me. I never did make it to the church, but did see some gorgeous mosques and cool parts of the city.

We then headed back to our hotel area. We took the tram for part of it and it was so packed I felt like I was going to pass out. I was squished in there and so you were too. Sorry about that! After a delicious Turkish lunch I went back to the hotel to rest for a bit. I am certain you were really happy that I was finally laying down.

It didn't last long and soon we were off again. This time we walked around the Topkapi Palace. It was huge. You tried to get out again and punched and kicked me a few times. I took the hint. Daddy and I went to sit for a bit before we went to the Asian side of Istanbul. It was a short rest though.

We took the tram to the ferry station and then headed across the river to see the Asian side and eat. It was quick, but there were no restaurants near the port. We walked some more. I'm sorry. I really am. Daddy was pulling me once again. Luckily, the Winters were with us and kept us occupied. We finally found a restaurant and loved the view walking to it. Unfortunately, the restaurant had no beer and the food didn't look too good. After a short sit, we walked again. This time we took the metro under the river. It was quicker. I think you were pretty mad at me though. You decided to push on my bladder and made me pee three times in a matter of about 45 minutes. We made it back to our hotel area and had a delicious dinner. Then finally I went to bed. I don't plan on making you walk that much again. 20,000 steps was just too much! Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed the city of Istanbul. In your short little life inside me you have already been to Jordan, Michigan, Bahrain, Lebanon and now Turkey. When we return to Riyadh, your flight count will be up to 12.

We can't wait to take you around the world, although we know our vacations will be significantly different and much more work. We have your first trip planned to Michigan for the summer and then your second trip will be to Prague in September. I hope you are a good traveler and like to be out and about like your Daddy. He is currently exploring the city without me and is perfectly fine doing that. I have a feeling you are going to be adventurous, just like him.

Love you!
mama

Less than 10 weeks to go...

It’s all going downhill now…I have read and heard a million times that the second trimester is the best and you feel the best you will throughout your pregnancy. Wow, is that true! I feel like I woke up one day and my body said, “Hey, you are in the third trimester now. You are going to feel like crap from now until the baby gets here…and maybe a little after that as well!” It’s like I went to bed one day feeling on top of the world and then woke up the next as if I was hit by a truck.

Let me tell you about my current complaints:

• My back- OH.MY.GOSH. It is so painful. It hurts when I walk too long. It hurts when I sit too long and it hurts when I stand too long. Oh, and it hurts if I am laying in the wrong position for too long.
• My stomach- this one has two issues. First, I feel a bit nauseated at times, not like the first trimester, but it’s not too fun. Second, it gets in the way. It’s getting hard to lean over, to bend down to pick stuff up and to put clothes on.
• My head- I now get headaches a few times a week. Luckily, they are not too bad.
• My lungs- Yep, my lungs bother me. It seems that baby girl is pushing on them every now and then. Because of this, I have a hard time breathing every now and then.
• I’m sleepy- I know it’s a difficult time in the year (we just finished report cards, are about to go on spring break and grade 2 had their assembly this week), but I feel like I could sleep at any time of day if I just closed my eyes.

So when people ask me how I am doing and I respond with, “Good!” I am either lying or they happen to catch me at a good time. I can’t believe I still have more than 9 weeks to go…

On a happy note, baby girl is moving like crazy still! She loves to move to fast music. The movements always increase when I am listening to music and a faster song comes on. I am not really sure when she sleeps because she moves so much. Travis has felt her move a lot now and we laugh at how crazy some of the movements are. We had a trip to the doctors last week and he said she is already head down, which makes this mama really happy! I now know when I am being kicked or punched because I know where her body parts are located.

Not too much else has been happening around here lately. Tomorrow we go to Istanbul and we are really looking forward to it. I will be going to the NESA conference for a few days and then both of us will have some time to do sightseeing. I think this is our first spring break when we haven’t gone to a beach. I am missing the beach a lot and am really looking forward to our summer on the lake. This trip will also be our last trip before baby comes!

Here are my 29 and 30 week photos.

Mama, Daddy and Baby this week:

• Mama is feeling tired and can feel baby girl a lot!
• Mama has swollen ankles and a very sore back.
• Mama eats too much junk food!
• Daddy loves to lay with mama and keep his hand on her belly to feel all the crazy movements!
• Baby is close to 3 pounds.
• Baby is the size of cantaloupe.
• Baby is about 17 inches!
• Baby may be able to recognize mama’s voice.

I wonder...

Dear Baby Girl,

I was just watching a short clip on Facebook from Swan Lake. It was a beautiful piece with some unbelievable dancing. As I was watching, you were moving around in my belly as you usually do. It made me think about you and what you will be like, or more specifically, who you will be like.

I wonder if you will be a dancer like your mommy. I loved dance and most of my favorite memories growing up comes from dance class, dance friends, dance competitions and just dancing for fun. Will you be a soccer player like your daddy? He loved to play soccer and is much more of a sports person than I am! Will you enjoy drawing and painting like mommy? I am not very good, but always loved to pick up a paint brush. Will you love to swim like both mommy and daddy? I absolutely love being in the water to play around. Daddy was a swim teacher and knows much more than I do about real swimming. Will you play the piano or another musical instrument? Daddy and I are always amazed with anyone who can play the piano. We love piano music and could listen to it live for hours! Will you be a singer? Your Aunt Jan and Aunt Jennifer have beautiful voices. Mommy loves to sing for fun or to entertain her friends, but she should really keep her mouth closed! You probably know that by now. Sorry that you are trapped inside of me and have to listen to my voice all the time.

Then I wonder about your personality. I am pretty sure you will be a lot like you daddy. You have not stopped moving much in the last 10 weeks! Your daddy doesn't sit still either. Mommy loves to have some down time. On rainy days, I could sit and watch TV or read a book for hours without a problem. Daddy would go nuts. He needs to get out and move a lot. It seems you will be taking after him on that note. Will you be a neat freak like mommy? I try really hard to keep things neat and organized. I am sure that will change in the next few months. Your daddy is becoming more organized, but if you could have seen his desk last year at work, you would understand that he doesn't need everything organized to know where it all is. Will you be brave like daddy? He is not afraid of much. I, on the other hand, can be frightened of my shadow at times. Will you love to travel like mommy and daddy? I hope so. It looks as if you will have many plane rides and many exciting adventures all over the world!

Who will you look like? Will you have your daddy's gorgeous eyes? I sure hope so! When I first met him, I could not stop staring at those sparklers. Sometimes they are green and sometimes they are blue. They are always beautiful! Will you someday have the crazy curves your mother has? They aren't so bad after all. Will you have long legs like both mommy and daddy? What color hair will you have?

As it gets closer and closer to the day we meet you, I grow more and more anxious. We are so excited and so nervous at the same time. No matter who or what you are like, we will love you like crazy!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy
March 8, 2015

Weeks 27 and 28

Weeks 27 and 28

It’s officially the third trimester now! I am feeling more tired lately and simple tasks are getting to be a bit more difficult. I can still put my own shoes on, but not in the same way. Getting up from a couch or chair is a little more difficult too now that I don’t have stomach muscles. I am finding that I am walking a bit slower and it’s not as comfortable. I have had a pain in lower left back and it is slowly creeping down to my butt and hamstrings. My walk has a slight limp to it! However, thanks to our AIS-R Get Fit Challenge, I am still getting around 10,000 steps a day. Some days I can get it without going for a walk after work, other days require a 30 minute walk around the compound. I haven’t done yoga since I learned I was pregnant and I am really missing it (and needing it). Today I decided to start it up again. I logged onto yogaglo.com and signed up. They offer all kids of yoga classes. I am eager to get at it again!

Baby girl is moving a lot! I can feel bigger movements now and Travis was able to feel her again. I find that she likes to move the most when I lay down to sleep. She also wakes me up in my sleep sometimes. I really like feeling her, but it is still such a strange sensation!

Here are my 27 and 28 week photos.

The last two weeks have been quite a blur. We had Week Without Walls at school, which really tired me out. Everyday we do different activities. It’s a break from the curriculum for the students, but is much more physically demanding. It was a great week!

Then this past weekend we went to Byblos, Lebanon. We planned this trip back in October and have been looking forward to it ever since. I really can’t describe what a great city it is, so I will let the pictures do all the talking. I will tell you that we walked a lot, ate a lot and really enjoyed the city and people.

Port Byblos

 All the buildings were gorgeous! The city was built in the 12th century.

 There were churches all over the town. They were beautiful!

 Loved this view each day! It was right across the street from our hotel.

 Lunch at Feniqia, loved, loved, loved this food!

 Tracy and I smiling after eating our delicious fish sandwich.

 Byblos Castle

 Byblos Castle surroundings

 Krystle and I enjoying the view of the Mediterranean Sea from the castle grounds.

 The amazing view from the top of the castle

 Port Byblos

This sunset was amazing!

Mama, Daddy and Baby this week:

• Mama is feeling tired and can feel baby girl a lot!
• Mama has swollen ankles and a sore back.
• Mama craves ice cream and all kinds of sweets right now.
• Daddy felt baby girl move again.
• Daddy does just about everything to help out mama.
• Baby is close to 2.5 pounds.
• Baby is the size of cauliflower.
• Baby is about 16 inches!
• Baby’s sleep now includes REM phases.